MARGAO: The Goa Panchayat Raj Act makes it mandatory for each village panchayat to hold four regular gram sabhas in a calendar year and get the budget approved at the sabha. However, it is pertinent to note that in 19 of the 31 village panchayats in Salcete, the budget has not been discussed while 13 of these local bodies did not even hold a single gram sabha in 2020.
Only 11 panchayats discussed the budget at the gram sabhas held before the lockdown was imposed thereby making it impossible for large number of people to gather. These panchayats are Varca, Sarzora, Paroda, Betalbatim, Sao Jose de Areal, Seraulim, Cavelossim, Rumdamol-Davorlim, Curtorim, Nuvem and Navelim.
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Another six villages conducted the gram sabha but failed to discuss the budget. These are Chinchinim-Deussua, Macazana, Camurlim, Chandor-Cavorim, Guirdolim and Carmona. At the gram sabhas of Chandor-Cavorim, Guirdolim and Carmona the budget was presented to the villagers gathered but not discussed as at that time the Code of Conduct was in force due to the ZP elections.
The panchayats that did not hold a single gram sabha in 2020 are Loutolim, Sernabatim-Vanelim-Colva-Gandaulim, Ambelim, Aquem-Baixo, Cana-Benaulim, Davorlim-Dicarpale, Velim, Assolna, Rachol, Dramapur-Sirlim, Raia, Xeldem and Orlim.
In fact Orlim had called for a gram sabha but the same was cancelled at the last minute as no developmental works could be discussed due to the Code of Conduct prevailing then.
Admitting that many villages failed to hold the gram sabhas, Block Development Officer Paritosh Fal Dessai said, “It was because of the pandemic and they would probably not attract any penal action. It is for the Director of Panchayats to decide on the matter.”
Admitting that most panchayats are functioning without the gram sabhas approving the budget as mandated in the Panchayat Raj Act, he said the budgets have been approved by the elected panchayat bodies at their regular meetings and implied that this approval could be considered.
The fact remains that the Goa Panchayat Raj is a “toothless” tiger as even in the past the panchayats have brazenly not conducted the mandated gram sabhas only because there is no penal action provided against such panchayats by the law and the amendments to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act are promised every now and then but that’s not happening.
